Chapter 46: Say You Will

Rachel stared at Elijah. She’d been waiting for him in secret for so long. Yet now, as he stood before her, hand to the bell, all she really wanted was for him to go away.

“Rachel…”

“Don’t do this to me here, Elijah. I’m at work, and I’m swamped. Don’t disrespect what I’ve built.”

“Sorry,” he muttered and turned to leave, but stopped when he saw Terrence at one of the booths scowling at him. *“What are you doing here?”* he linked to the gigantic wolf.

*“Your friends called. Said you probably would need a good kick in your ass. Now turn the hell around and handle your business like I taught you.”*

Seeing Morgan, Jordan, and Sterling sitting incognito at two other booths, Elijah nodded, appreciating their support. Turning, he called out to Rachel, whose back was to him, “No.”

She spun around. “What the hell do you mean no?”

“I mean, I need to say something to you, and I won’t leave until you hear it.” Pursing her lips, she stood in silence. As she gave him the death stare, his mind went blank. He said the first thing that came into his thoughts. “I see you!”

Morgan slammed her head on the table. “The boys a goner,” she said.

Rachel strolled around the counter, dusting the flour off her hands. “You see me? What the hell type of creepy shit is that? Are we playing peek-a-boo? How about this? I see you when I asked not to. That leaves you with two options, and I’ll present you with both.” She rolled up her sleeves. “Either you see your ass out of my restaurant, or you gonna see these hands. Hurry and choose before I deck you for taking too long.”

Remembering the oar incident, he grimaced. He knew she would be mad, but he’d hoped she’d at least consider listening. She rolled her eyes, and his jaw instantly twitched. “I hate it when you do that,” he said, his annoyance getting the better of him.

“I really don’t care. Get the hell out, Elijah. Seriously, can’t you see I’m busy?”

Something stirred deep inside of him the longer he looked at her. He may be terrible at this, but if there was anything that all this time taught him, it was to say what you feel and deal with the consequences later. “When I first saw you, I saw the sexual chocolate!” he shouted. As soon as he said it, he knew that wasn’t right. He’d practiced for hours in the mirror just for everything to go to shit.

She scrunched her face. “Are you having a damn stroke? Listen, you do that shit on my floor, and I will sweep you in the corner and carry on with my day. The hell’s the matter with you? Do you need something to eat? I’ll fix you something if you’re sick, but then after that, I really need you to go.”

Elijah stood, palms sweaty, and his shoulders slumped. Averting his eyes, he peeked at Terrence, who said nothing but simply nodded. He thought about everything he’d learned over his time and how much he’d grown. Even if nothing was resolved, he really wanted her to know how much she meant to him and how hard he’d worked to make things right. He breathed in deeply.

“I’m trying to say that I know that you’re a black woman. Your life and experiences will always differ from mine. I know that not saying anything made me tone deaf to the fact that that alone hurt you. I now understand that it’s something that should be celebrated loudly because it’s a major part of who you are. I hurt you. I sat in it, I felt it, and I dealt with it every day, and at first I didn’t fully understand how deep that hurt ran until I looked at myself.

“But I see you, Rachel. I see you. Your strength, your vulnerability, your past, present, and future. I see why you love where you’re from and I see where you’re going. I see why it was so important to you I pay attention, too.” He pointed at Morgan. “I see that you’re an amazing sister and a friend. I can see that you can accomplish anything you put your mind to.

“I see your ability to love unconditionally. I see why you never forget who you are. I see your struggles and pain. I see you need a safe space to let the weight off your shoulders that this world insists you carry alone. I see you, and I’m so sorry it took me this long to figure it out.” Rachel’s hands shook, and her eyes were glassed with tears. He took his thumb and wiped one away. “I thank you for loving me even when I loved you incorrectly, and I thank you more for leaving me when I still didn’t get it right.”

“Elijah…”

“I know you didn’t need any of the stuff that I have. You needed me and I let you down, and I’ll always have to live with that. I just needed you to know, Rachel, I get it. I finally get it. I may never fully know your pain, but I swear I’ll always listen and try my hardest to understand. You’re the best part of me, and I didn’t realize that until you were gone. You made me see me and I’ll always love you for that.”

Her lip quivered, and he clasped her face. “Please don’t cry. I just-I—” He couldn’t get his words out, seeing her fall apart. His wolf whined, and Elijah pulled her to him. “You’re the reason I keep trying to be better.” He kissed her hesitatingly, and she wrapped her arms around his neck. Grabbing her closer, he kissed her repeatedly. “I’ve missed you so much,” he murmured. Releasing her, he reached into his pocket, and his eyes grew large when he couldn’t find what he was searching for.

“Boy, you one-third of a whole stupid,” Terrence said as he side-eyed Sterling and Jordan. He smiled and approached Elijah, slipping the velvet box into his hand. “You dropped it, dummy,” he said, but his hazel eyes twinkled. Patting Elijah on the back, he moved away.

Rachel looked at Elijah. “Dropped wha—” She never finished her statement as he got down on one knee.

Opening the box, he smiled at the way her face lit up at the sight of the black diamond solitaire ring encased by four skulls. He’d returned the one he’d picked out for the one that was perfect for her. “I’ve been trying to ask you for a while, but now I understand why I never got it right. I love you. Not because we’re imprinted, but because of who you are. I want to have children with you”—he paused—“unless you don’t want children, then I respect that. Do you want children? I—”

Terrence slapped him gently on the back of the head. “Boy!”

“I want children, Elijah,” she said, laughing.

A broad grin plastered itself on his face. “Good, because I want it all with you. Not to mention, if I’m honest, I miss your big head on my chest, and green hair in my face.” She scoffed and playfully hit him, and his wolf jumped up and down. “Dr. Rachel Samantha Pierce” —she blushed hearing the title— “will you marry me?”

Covered in flour, her hair messily tied to the top of her head, an exhausted but happy Rachel looked at the man she loved and said yes.

The crowd cheered. Morgan ran to her sister, and Jordan and Sterling congratulated Elijah.

“That’s how you do it, boy,” Terrence said.

“Thanks, sir,” Elijah replied as he rubbed the back of his neck, secretly happy he’d made him proud.

Morgan engulfed her sister. “I’m so fucking happy for you!” They shared a tearful laugh.

“You helped him, didn’t you?”

“Only because I knew he’d finally gotten it right.” The smell of leather and burning sandalwood made her dizzy. Her emotions all over the place, she looked at Rachel.

“It’s okay, go,” Rachel whispered, and she nodded. She kissed Elijah on the cheek and briskly slipped away.

In all the commotion and merriment, Jordan’s body froze as time seemed to stand still. His senses also on alert, Sterling placed his hand on his brother’s shoulder, his body just as rigid. They’d noticed something had changed. Frantically, they searched around, but the restaurant no longer smelled like her. Looking out the window, their hearts broke all over again as Morgan’s teary eyes locked with theirs and she got in her car and drove away.